Melissa Ziobron adopts local state parks

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron has “adopted” state parks in the 34th District as part of a program to help raise awareness for Connecticut’s State Park system.

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron has “adopted” state parks in the 34th District as part of a program to help raise awareness for Connecticut’s State Park system.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Photo: Contributed Photo

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron has “adopted” state parks in the 34th District as part of a program to help raise awareness for Connecticut’s State Park system.

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron has “adopted” state parks in the 34th District as part of a program to help raise awareness for Connecticut’s State Park system.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Melissa Ziobron adopts local state parks

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

HARTFORD >> A local legislators has again adopted three state parks in her district as part of a program to help raise awareness for the Connecticut State Park system.

Friends of Connecticut State Parks Day at the Capitol was held on March 11 by Connecticut Forest & Park Association and Friends of CT State Parks. State Rep. Melissa Ziobron was honored for her continued effort to promote Connecticut’s state park system by being chosen a member of the “Legislator Honor Roll.”

Ziobron’s commitment to adopting and promoting state parks has been a priority since she began her tenure in the legislature, according to a release.

“My district is home to many beautiful state parks and forests,” she said. “Advocating for them and the people who care for them continues to be one of my top priorities as a representative of the 34th District.”

Ziobron’s 2016-17 adopted parks include: Salmon River State Forest in Colchester, Air Line Trail State Park in East Hampton and Brainard Homestead State Park in East Haddam.

As part of the program, Ziobron made a pledge to host an event at each park and invite residents to join her. Since taking this pledge last year, Ziobron held events at all four of her adopted parks.

In celebration of Trails Day, which is sponsored by CFPA, her first event will be held Saturday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. at Salmon River State Forest. She will be hosting a letterboxing event with several unguided hikes and one guided hike available. Any participants who are accompanied by Ziobron should also bring binoculars for optional birdwatching, as she is an accomplished birder. Check www.repziobron.com later this spring for more information.

“With an estimated $2 million in cuts for state park funding included in the governor’s budget proposal,” Ziobron said. “I plan to do my very best to safeguard the public’s access to our parks and secure critical funding that our park system so desperately needs. I hope that by continuing to highlight our state parks and activities, it will bring the true value of these special places to the forefront for my constituents. It is critical that we know their value during the budget process.”

According to a study conducted by UConn’s Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, state parks generate $6 million a year through admissions and other fees, and provide over $1 billion and 9,000 jobs to Connecticut’s economy each year. The study also documented that for every dollar the state spends on the state park system, it receives a return of $38 in economic activity. In addition, the increased property values of individual dwellings that border or overlook green open space generate an estimated $3.1 to $5.4 million to municipalities.